02 Feb exceedingly rare remnants from 1893 columbian exposition pabst pavilion gold-plated model brewery centerpiece found by anonymous collector

the 1893 pabst pavilion, designed by otto strack for chicago’s world’s columbian exposition, was a terra-cotta structure with a green copper dome and glass corners showcasing beer products. its highlight was a 13-square-foot 24 karat gold-plated cast bronze and white metal pabst brewery model executed by the reliance wire and iron works, milwaukee, wisc.

constructed of buff-colored terra cotta ornamented with hop vines and beer steins, the pabst trade pavilion was designed by architect otto strack. it was located in the gallery of the agricultural building at the chicago world’s fair. after the fair ended in october 1893, pabst had the entire pavilion dismantled and shipped to his mansion in milwaukee. it was reassembled as a private conservatory until it was dismantled/destroyed in 2024.

the centerpiece of the pavilion was a 13-square-foot scale model of the milwaukee brewery. the model was made of pure gold or “gold-washed” and reportedly cost captain pabst $100,000 (equivalent to millions of dollars today).

after the 1893 chicago world’s fair, the gold moafter the conclusion of the exposition, the “gold model” was returned to milwaukee and subsequently displayed at the 1904 world’s fair in st. louis. following that event, the model was dismantled or broken apart, with only a few pieces retained as souvenirs by pabst brewery employees.

surviving pieces are now held by the milwaukee historical society (the highlight being the solon s. beman-designed pabst building) and the pabst mansion, which has three rail cars and an unidentifed building in their collection.

the recently unearthed model pieces offer hope that additional remnants of the gold model are out there waiting to be discovered.

rare pabst brewing company “100 points of perfection” illustrated booklet made for distribution at the 1893 columbian exposition’s pabst pavilion.

the softbound booklet is one of two known promotional pieces handed out to fairgoers.

courtesy of bld. 51 archive.

images courtesy of eric j. nordstrom and the bld. 51 museum archive. all rights reserved. 2026. model fragments courtesy of private collection.